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Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch
Designer: Halsey Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Cat Ketch Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1985
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About the Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch

Steeped in the legendary design heritage of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, this distinctive cat ketch represents the innovative spirit that made the Bristol, Rhode Island yard famous throughout the golden age of American yachting. The Herreshoff name carries unparalleled prestige in sailing circles, with the company's designs dominating America's Cup competition and setting standards for yacht construction that endure today. The cat ketch rig configuration—featuring two masts with the main sail set on the forward mast and no headsail—offers unique sailing characteristics that appeal to cruising sailors seeking simplified sail handling and balanced performance. This rig arrangement provides excellent sailing balance and reduces the complexity of sail trim, making it particularly attractive for shorthanded sailing or those who prefer a more relaxed approach to sail management. Built during an era when Herreshoff designs were synonymous with quality craftsmanship and thoughtful engineering, this model would have incorporated the yard's characteristic attention to detail and seaworthiness. The boat's pedigree suggests suitability for serious coastal cruising and offshore passages, backed by the proven design philosophy that made Herreshoff yachts trusted companions for discerning sailors seeking both performance and reliability.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 40.00 ft / 12.19 m
Beam 13.42 ft / 4.09 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 18,500.00 lb / 8,391 kg
Ballast 8,000.00 lb / 3,629 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cat Ketch (unstayed)
Construction FG
Designer Halsey Herreshoff
Builder Cat Ketch Corp. (USA)
First Built 1985
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
114
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
43.24
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
129.05
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 11.5 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 19.06
P (Mainsail Luff) 830.00 ft² / 77.11 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 129.05
How It Compares

vs. Caliber 45, Freedom 45 Ac, Freedom 45 Cc, Morgan 45 3, Nonsuch 40

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
45.0 ft
Caliber 45
45.0 ft
Freedom 45 Ac
45.0 ft
Freedom 45 Cc
45.0 ft
Morgan 45 3
45.0 ft
Nonsuch 40
45.0 ft
LWL
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
40.0 ft
Caliber 45
35.8 ft
Freedom 45 Ac
34.4 ft
Freedom 45 Cc
34.4 ft
Morgan 45 3
36.8 ft
Nonsuch 40
40.0 ft
Beam
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
13.4 ft
Caliber 45
13.3 ft
Freedom 45 Ac
13.5 ft
Freedom 45 Cc
13.5 ft
Morgan 45 3
13.4 ft
Nonsuch 40
14.1 ft
Displacement
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
18 lbs
Caliber 45
29 lbs
Freedom 45 Ac
22 lbs
Freedom 45 Cc
22 lbs
Morgan 45 3
21 lbs
Nonsuch 40
26 lbs
Ballast
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
8 lbs
Caliber 45
12 lbs
Freedom 45 Ac
9 lbs
Freedom 45 Cc
9 lbs
Morgan 45 3
Nonsuch 40
Sail Area
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
Caliber 45
940 sq ft
Freedom 45 Ac
731 sq ft
Freedom 45 Cc
Morgan 45 3
928 sq ft
Nonsuch 40
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
114 s/nm
Caliber 45
Freedom 45 Ac
105 s/nm
Freedom 45 Cc
99 s/nm
Morgan 45 3
Nonsuch 40
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
Caliber 45
16.0
Freedom 45 Ac
14.5
Freedom 45 Cc
Morgan 45 3
19.6
Nonsuch 40
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
43.2 %
Caliber 45
41.4 %
Freedom 45 Ac
41.3 %
Freedom 45 Cc
41.3 %
Morgan 45 3
Nonsuch 40
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
Caliber 45
36.9
Freedom 45 Ac
29.5
Freedom 45 Cc
Morgan 45 3
26.1
Nonsuch 40
29.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
Caliber 45
1.74
Freedom 45 Ac
1.90
Freedom 45 Cc
Morgan 45 3
1.95
Nonsuch 40
1.89
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
129
Caliber 45
281
Freedom 45 Ac
252
Freedom 45 Cc
252
Morgan 45 3
Nonsuch 40
187
Hull Speed
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
Caliber 45
8.0 kts
Freedom 45 Ac
7.9 kts
Freedom 45 Cc
Morgan 45 3
8.1 kts
Nonsuch 40
8.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Herreshoff 45 Cat Ketch ★
Caliber 45
Freedom 45 Ac
1.9
Freedom 45 Cc
Morgan 45 3
3.2
Nonsuch 40
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